Yesterday we shared some basic tips and ideas to help you give your home a fresh, clean start for 2011. Below are some additional guidelines for daily, weekly and monthly household maintenance:
How to Keep a (Consistently) Clean Kitchen
Daily tasks include cleaning up dishes, pots and pans after every meal and running the dishwasher as needed. Wipe down kitchen countertops and surfaces, wipe spills as they occur and empty trash cans as needed. Sweep the floor every few days to avoid crumbs and food particles from becoming trapped under appliances or within tile grout.
At the beginning of each week, clean out older and/or potentially spoiled food from the refrigerator. You’ll also want to mop your kitchen floor, flush your drain with boiling water and disinfect kitchen countertops on a weekly basis.
For monthly kitchen maintenance, wipe down/clean your small appliances (such as coffee maker and microwave) as well as the oven, trash can and inside of your refrigerator. Clean the kitchen sink drain with drain cleaner and wipe down areas that accumulate cooking grease with a degreaser.
Bathroom Cleaning Checklist
Daily tasks include hanging towels to dry, wiping down your sink and/or vanity after use and changing out hand towels. On a weekly basis, sweep or mop bathroom floor, empty the trash can, vacuum rugs, clean mirrors, clean/disinfect countertops, clean/disinfect the toilet and flush drains with boiling water.
For monthly maintenance, clean/remove any mold or mildew from your shower, clean grout, wash trash can and launder shower curtain and rugs.
Tips for Cleaning Dust and Dirt
Changing your furnace filter regularly is one of the simplest (yet most overlooked) ways to keep dust from accumulating throughout your home. A hassle-free way to get rid of dust that collects on curtains or drapes is to throw them in the dryer for approximately twenty minutes…the movement and air flow will remove dust quickly and easily. Lamp shades should be dusted on a bi-weekly basis and houseplants wiped down with a damp rag soaked in lukewarm water. You may also want to use a feather duster to clean ceiling fans and air vents to prevent dust from being circulated and breathed in throughout your home.
